System and method for monitoring activities in a digital channel

ABSTRACT

The system may be configured to determine, via a verification and monitoring module, identity information for a user in a channel. The system may monitor activity information in the channel. The activity information may be analyzed to determine that the activity information corresponds to an activity associated with the user. The system may also analyze the activity information to determine that the activity information is associated with an item in the channel. The system may identify the item. The system may also initiate, via a transaction processing system, a transaction for the item in response to the analyzing the activity information.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This continuation-in-part application claims priority to, and thebenefit of, U.S. Ser. No. 13/889,299, filed May 7, 2013 and entitled“SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PURCHASING IN A DIGITAL CHANNEL.” The '299Application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. ProvisionalSer. No. 61/701,683, filed Sep. 16, 2012 and entitled “PURCHASING IN ADIGITAL CHANNEL.” The '299 Application further claims priority to, andthe benefit of, U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 61/701,685, filed Sep. 16,2012 and entitled “PURCHASING IN A DIGITAL CHANNEL.” The '299Application also claims priority to U.S. Provisional Ser. No.61/701,686, filed Sep. 16, 2012 and entitled “REWARDS AND PURCHASING INA DIGITAL CHANNEL.” The '299 Application also claims priority to U.S.Provisional Ser. No. 61/701,688, filed Sep. 16, 2012, entitled “SPENDVERIFIED REVIEWS IN A THIRD PARTY DIGITAL CHANNEL.” The '299 Applicationalso claims priority to U.S. Provisional Ser. No. 61/754,354, filed Jan.18, 2013 and entitled “PURCHASING IN A DIGITAL CHANNEL.” All of theabove-identified applications are hereby incorporated by reference intheir entirety for all purposes.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to activities in digitalchannels, and more specifically, to associating activities in digitalchannels with one or more transaction accounts to provide rewards,discounts, and/or purchasing opportunities.

BACKGROUND

Traditional purchasing channels often limit a consumer's ability topurchase goods and services. These channels typically require consumersto visit brick and mortar businesses or e-commerce sites. As such, thereis a need to provide non-traditional purchasing channels for a consumerto purchase goods and services.

SUMMARY

The systems, methods and computer program products (collectively“system”) described herein allow a digital channel to be augmented orsupplemented to become a payment channel. The system may be configuredto perform operations including determining, by a computer based systemand via a verification and monitoring module, identity information for auser in a channel. The system may monitor, by the computer based system,activity information in the channel. The activity information may beanalyzed to determine that the activity information corresponds to anactivity associated with the user. The system may also analyze, by thecomputer based system, the activity information to determine that theactivity information is associated with an item in the channel. Thesystem may identify, by the computer based system, the item. The systemmay also initiate, by the computer based system and via a transactionprocessing system, a transaction for the item in response to theanalyzing the activity information.

In various embodiments, the system may also transmit, by the computerbased system, a module for the channel. The module may be installed toallow the authentication information to be collected through the channeland communicated from the channel to the verification and monitoringmodule. The verification and monitoring module may be configured toconfirm the identity of the user, in response to the authenticationinformation being communicated through the module. The module may beconfigured to validate user information associated with a transactionaccount and a user. In various embodiments, the module may be configuredto enable a purchase of the item with the transaction account in thechannel based on the activity information for the user in the channel.The module may also be configured to capture activity information in thechannel. The module may be configured to monitor selector activity by auser in the channel.

In various embodiments, the activity information may correspond tomovement of a selector in the channel. The activity information may alsocorrespond to a selection in the channel. The channel may be aproprietary channel. The channel may also be a non-proprietary channel.

In various embodiments, the systems described herein are generallyconfigured to monitor actions in digital channels. The system mayassociate a transaction account with a digital channel profile. Based onthe association, the system may compare an action associated with thedigital channel profile to criteria. If the action satisfies thecriteria, the system may initiate a transaction based on the action atleast partially satisfying the criteria. The system may then transmittransaction information for an item in response to the satisfying.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The features and advantages of the present disclosure will become moreapparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken inconjunction with the drawings.

FIG. 1A is a system diagram showing various elements of a digitalchannel purchasing system, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 1B is a partial system diagram associate with a user device, inaccordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary channel configuration, in accordance withvarious embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a first method of conducting a purchase in a channelbased on an activity, in accordance with various embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a second method of conducting a purchase in a channelbased on an activity, in accordance with various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In various embodiments, the systems, methods and computer programproducts described herein provide a consumer with the ability toinitiate transactions in digital channels. The detailed description ofvarious embodiments makes reference to the accompanying drawings, whichshow various embodiments by way of illustration. While these variousembodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilledin the art to practice the disclosure, it should be understood thatother embodiments may be realized and that logical and mechanicalchanges may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of thedisclosure. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented forpurposes of illustration only and not of limitation. For example, thesteps recited in any of the method or process descriptions may beexecuted in any order and are not limited to the order presented.Moreover, any of the functions or steps may be outsourced to orperformed by one or more third parties. Furthermore, any reference tosingular includes plural embodiments, and any reference to more than onecomponent may include a singular embodiment.

As e-commerce and digital activities grow and the boundaries of thevirtual marketplace and virtual world disappear, consumers are lookingfor ways to more easily conduct transactions (e.g., purchases orobtaining items from merchants) or take actions associated withtransactions (e.g., spend verified activities and/or reviews). As aresult, merchants, payment processors, entertainment providers and othersimilarly situated entities are also looking for new ways to attractconsumers. To allow users to more easily purchase the items they desireor require, entities are looking to provide alternatives to traditionalpoint of sale interfaces that require payment tokens (e.g.,credit/charge/debit cards, NFC, fobs, and the like) or virtual paymentterminals that require consumers to provide transaction accountinformation. Further, spend verification of activities allows a user toverify activities by confirming that the user's action associated withthe activity is associated with an actual transaction for an item.

The systems described herein allow any digital channel to be augmentedor supplemented to become a payment channel. In operation, the system iscapable of syncing or associating a consumer's channel profile with aconsumer's transaction account. The information to sync the profile andthe transaction account may be captured in the channel, by thetransaction account issuer (e.g., at the transaction account issuerwebsite), or by a third party service. In response to the transactionaccount and the profile being synced, the system may track consumeractivities in the digital channel. If an activity satisfies or meetssome criteria (e.g., a transaction initiation), the system may initiatean action associated with the transaction account. The system may, forexample, initiate a transaction with a merchant, trigger a digitalchannel to request a review associated with a recently purchased item orservice experience, provide a reward based on an in channelaccomplishment, and/or the like.

The systems provide a seamless experience for consumers in variousdigital channels (e.g., social media channels and entertainmentchannels) by allowing consumers to initiate purchases, earn rewards andprovide feedback, without the necessity to leave a channel to engage atraditional payment channel (e.g., a brick and mortar merchant location,an e-commerce site, and/or the like). In this way, the systemsconsolidate payment channels and digital channels to provide a platformfor social commerce. The systems provide flexibility and efficiency forconsumers and merchants by allowing them to connect and transact in anychannel. Further, the systems allow channel providers to rewardconsumers and request feedback. As such, these various systems provideconsumers, merchants and channel providers with the flexibility toengage in social commerce in any suitable channel. In the context of asocial media channel (e.g., Twitter), the systems may be configured toallow purchases based on an activity in the social media channel (e.g.,a Tweet). In response to a sync between the social media channel and thetransaction account, a user may broadcast a predefined indicator (e.g.,a hashtag) that triggers the system to initiate a purchase. The syncedtransaction account may be charged for the initiated purchase and thatitem associated with the purchase may be provided to the user.

Phrases and terms similar to an “item” may include any good, service,merchant, information, experience, data, content, access, rental, lease,contribution, account, credit, debit, benefit, right, reward, points,coupons, credits, monetary equivalent, anything of value, something ofminimal or no value, monetary value, non-monetary value and/or the like.

In various embodiments and as used herein, a digital channel may be anysuitable channel available to a user over a network, including forexample, a social media channel, an entertainment channel, a servicechannel, a review channel, a service scheduling channel, and/or thelike. The channel may include a user interface and user account that maybe created by a user. Moreover, the user may be able to access thedigital channel through a web client on any suitable electronic device.The digital channel may also be considered a non-traditional purchasingchannel (e.g., a channel where information about an item may be present,but where the ability to purchase the item is not traditionallyavailable such as, for example, an item page in a social media channelwhere information about an item is available).

In various embodiments, the systems, methods, and computer programproducts (collectively, the “system”) described herein may be capable ofexecuting purchases for items, initiating transactions, providingpurchase instructions, providing transaction instructions, and/or thelike through digital channels (e.g., entertainment channels, socialmedia channels, marketing channels, advertisements, and the like). Thesystem may sync, link, or otherwise associate a transaction account witha consumer in the channel. In response to the association, the systemmay track and/or receive information from a digital channel indicativeof an activity with a consumer in the channel. If the activitycorresponds to a purchase opportunity, the system may initiate apurchase or provide purchase instructions associated with the purchaseopportunity. A merchant associated with the purchase opportunity mayprocess the initiation or instructions. In response to the initiation orinstructions complying with the terms of the purchase opportunity, themerchant may provide the item to the consumer and receive payment fromthe associated transaction account. For example, in a broadcast channelsuch as Twitter, the system may track or receive broadcasts (e.g.,tweets) from consumers who have associated their transaction accountswith the broadcast channel. The system may analyze the content of thebroadcast to identify a predetermined purchase indicator (e.g., ahashtag). In response to the broadcast including the purchase indicator,the system may initiate or provide instructions to a merchant toinitiate a transaction and provide an item to the consumer. The systemmay require that the consumer confirm that the broadcast was intended toinitiate a transaction for an item. As such, the system allows theconsumer to purchase an item based on a broadcast and without have touse a traditional merchant channel (e.g., a brick and mortar location, amerchant or third party e-commerce site, and/or the like).

As used herein, a “merchant” may be any person or entity capable ofproviding a service or an item. A merchant may distribute the item inany way, for example, by exchanging the item for payment. The merchantmay be capable of accepting the payment through any suitable paymentchannel including traditional payment channels including, for example,POS terminals, online payments terminals, transaction account networksand the like. The merchant may also accept payment throughnon-traditional payment terminals including, for example, social mediachannels, person to person payments. Further information about person toperson payments is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/640,216, entitled Systems and Methods for Transferring Value via aSocial Network, which is incorporated herein by reference in itsentirety for any purpose.

In various embodiments and with reference to FIG. 1A, a purchasingsystem 100 may comprise a verification and monitoring module 110, atransaction processing system 120, and an inventory database 130. Thevarious components, systems, databases and modules of system 100 may becoupled to a network 105. System 100 may be operatively coupled toand/or in electronic communication with user device 140. User device 140may be any suitable user device. Moreover, user device 140 may comprisea suitable browser and/or micro app that are configured to display anelectronic channel.

In various embodiments, verification and monitoring module 110 may be inelectronic communication with any one of transaction processing system120, inventory database 130, user device 140, and/or the like.Similarly, transaction processing system 120 and/or inventory database130 may be in electronic communication with each other, verification andmonitoring module 110, and/or user device 140. In this way, system 100is an electronic communication system that is configured to connect adistributed computing system via network 105. This allows system 100 tocreate a commerce channel in any suitable channel. This transformationchanges the nature of an electronic communication channel, namely, bygiving it secondary functionality (e.g., any electronic channel can bean electronic marketplace). Moreover, the transformation providesmerchants, transaction account issuers, and users to communicate,interact, and/or transact in non-traditional ways.

In various embodiments, network 105 may be an open network a closed loopnetwork. The open network may be a network that is accessible by variousthird parties. In this regard, the open network may be the internet, atypical transaction network, and/or the like. Network 105 may also beclosed network. In this regard, network 105 may be a closed loop networklike the network operated by American Express. Moreover, the closed loopnetwork may be configured with enhanced security and monitoringcapability. For example, the closed network may be configured withtokenization, associated domain controls, and/or other enhanced securityprotocols. In this regard, network 105 may be configured to monitorusers on network 105. In this regard, the closed loop network may be asecure and may be an environment that can be monitored, has enhancedsecurity features.

In various embodiments and with reference to FIG. 1B, user device 140may be any suitable user device including, for example, a computer, atablet, an internet enabled smartphone, and/or the like. User device 140may be in electronic communication with a public channel 150 and/or aproprietary channel 160. Public channel 150 may be, for example, a webbrowser, a social media network, a third party micro-app, and/or thelike. Proprietary channel 160 may be a proprietary application, website,interface, and/or the like. In this regard, proprietary channel 160 maybe operated and/or provided by a transaction account issuer or a partnerintegrated with the transaction account issuer.

In various embodiments and with reference to FIG. 1A and FIG. 1B, publicchannel 150 may be operatively coupled to and/or in electroniccommunication with verification engine 115. Verification engine 115 maybe an engine operating within and/or disposed on verification andmonitoring module 110. Verification module 115 may be any suitableplugin, application programming interface, module, and/or widget thatare configured to be installed within public channel 150. In thisregard, the module may be configured to evaluate the data provided bythe user that is associated with activities of the user.

In various embodiments, a merchant may be capable of communicating withat least one of module 110, transaction processing system 120, and/orinventory database 130. The merchant may communicate inventory, price,and other relevant item information to facilitate the offer of the itemto the user. In this way, the merchant my leverage system 100 toseamlessly offer items in a non-traditional electronic marketplaceanywhere that system 100 can deploy content (e.g., the Internet).

In various embodiments and with specific reference to FIG. 2, a channel250/260 may be configured to present one or more items such as, forexample, item 252, item 254, and/or the like. Moreover, channel 250/260may comprise a verification input 255 that is in electroniccommunication with and/or operatively coupled to verification engine215. Verification module 255 may be configured to receive credentialinformation from a user to validate that the user is a transactionaccount owner. In this regard, verification module 255 may be a loginfor a proprietary channel or a credential request engine in a publicchannel that is configured to validate that the user is associated withthe transaction account. The credential information may be traditionalcredential information such as, for example, a username and a password,or non-traditional credential information such as, for example,biometric information, a pattern, and/or the like. For additionalinformation about non-traditional information, see U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/732,985, entitled SYSTEM AND METHOD FORACCESSING A TOUCH ENABLED DEVICE and filed on Jun. 8, 2015, which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety for any purpose.

In various embodiments and with reference with FIG. 1A, FIG. 1B, andFIG. 3, a method 300 that is executed by system 100 is provided. Method300 may comprise determining via verification and monitoring module 110identity information for a user in public channel 150 or proprietarychannel 160 (Step 310). In this regard, verification and monitoringmodule 110 may be operatively coupled to and/or in electroniccommunication with proprietary channel 160 and/or public channel 150.Monitoring module 110 may be configured to collect verificationinformation from a user to confirm that the user is associated with aparticular transaction account, as discussed herein.

In various embodiments, method 300 may further comprise monitoringactivity information in proprietary channel 160 and/or public channel150 (Step 320). Activity information may include for example, movementof a selector, selection of an item, and/or the like in the channel(e.g., public channel 150 or proprietary channel 160) by the user.Activity information may also correspond to a selection by the user inpublic channel 150 and/or proprietary channel 160. The activityinformation may be monitored by the module. The module may be anartificial intelligence engine that is configured to monitor activity ina channel. The activity information may be analyzed to determine thatthe activity information corresponds to an activity associated with theuser. In this regard, the activity information may be analyzed todetermine whether the activity is actual human activity or activity froma bot or a web crawler that is interacting with various items on aproprietary channel 160 or a public channel 150. More specifically, theartificial intelligence may be the use of gesture processing or mousemovement and informed prediction modeling. Based on the predictivemodeling associated with a user (e.g., purchasing likelihood based on anumber of visits, past purchases, demographic information, and/or thelike) and the activity information, system 100 may initiate a purchase,where there is no click or selection of an item. Rather, the activityinformation (e.g., the presence or absence of certain activities thathistorically correspond to purchase activities) may trigger the purchasewithout the traditional selection of the item, addition of the item to acart and check out, or the more streamlined one-click checkoutsavailable from online retailers.

In various embodiments, verification and monitoring module 110 maycomprise an engine that is configured to analyze the activityinformation in the channel (e.g., public channel 150 or proprietarychannel 160). The engine may be configured to discern between activityinformation associated with a human user and activity informationassociated with a bot or other suitable web crawler. The engine may beconfigured to analyze the activity information associated with a user toidentify particular micro movements or subtle patterns. In this way,verification and monitoring module 110 may be able to distinguish thatthe movement of a cursor or other activity in the channel is associatedwith an actual user (e.g., not a bot or web crawler).

In various embodiments, method 300 may further comprise analyzing theactivity information to determine that the activity information isassociated with an item in the channel (Step 330). In this regard,system 100 and/or verification and monitoring module 110 may beconfigured to monitor the location of the activity information withinproprietary channel 160 and/or public channel 150. For example and withspecific reference to FIG. 2, activity information associated withcursor 256 and an item displayed within channel 250/260 may be detectedby system 100 and/or verification and monitoring module 110. In thisregard, system 100 may be configured to discern between activitiesassociated with particular items (e.g., item 252, item 254, and/or thelike) displayed within channel 250/260. With reference again to FIG. 1A,FIG. 1B, and FIG. 3, method 300 may further comprise identifying theitem (Step 340) based on the activity information and the location ofthe activity information in the channel (e.g., public channel 150 orproprietary channel 160).

In various embodiments, method 300 may further comprise initiating, viatransaction processing system 120, a transaction for the item inresponse to analyzing the activity information (Step 350). In thisregard, system 100 may be capable of and/or configured to initiate atransaction based on simple movements and/or human activities within thechannel (e.g., public channel 150 or proprietary channel 160).

In various embodiments, method 300 may further comprise transmitting amodule for the channel, such as, for example, public channel 150 (Step360). The module may be installed to allow authentication information tobe collected through public channel 150 and communicated from publicchannel 150 to verification and monitoring module 110. Moreover,verification and monitoring module 110 may be configured to confirm theidentity of the user in response to the authentication information beingcommunicated from the module.

In various embodiments, the module may be configured to validate userinformation associated with the transaction account and/or a user. Inthis regard, the module may be provided by a transaction account issuerand may be configured to collect authentication information for thetransaction account, as described herein. In this regard, the module maybe capable of validating the identity of a user and authenticating theactivities associated with the user within public channel 150.

In various embodiments, the module may be configured to enable apurchase of or initiate a transaction for an item with the transactionaccount in public channel 150 based on activity information for the userin the channel. In this regard, the module may be configured totransform public channel 150 (e.g., a web page, a third party micro app,a social media channel, and/or the like) into a marketplace where goodscan be purchased and provided to a user. The module may be configured tocreate a marketplace in any suitable electronic medium. In this way,users may be allowed to transact in channels where commerce is nottraditionally conducted but where users spend time on the internet.

Payment confirmation may include a user taking action or may be anotification that a transaction has been partially or fully initiated,processed, and/or completed. In various embodiments, the confirmationdetails for a transaction may also be automatically supplied if theconsumer provided confirmation information in response to the consumeropting into a program for initiating purchases based on activities in achannel. As such, the transaction or purchase initiated based on the inchannel action may proceed without requiring a confirming action or anyovert action other than the activity from the consumer. Based on anaction initiating a purchase, the channel or system 100 may provide theconsumer with a confirmation notification. This notification may containpurchase details including for example, transaction account information,item information, channel profile information, and/or the like. Theconfirmation may be a text message, push notification or other suitableinstant communication that alerts the user of the purchase.

In various embodiments, the merchant or transaction account issuer(e.g., the operator of system 100) may also define a purchase inventorythat is defined in inventory database 130. The operator may define afixed or pre-defined inventory or items, or a dynamically determinedinventory or items. This inventory may be determined based on marketprojections, initial success of a purchase event campaign, or any othersuitable parameter. Transaction processing system 120 and/or inventorydatabase 130 may be configured to monitor a purchasing event insubstantially real time (e.g., substantially simultaneously with thedetected activity in the channel). Based on this monitoring, system 100may be capable of determining real time interest data for the purchasingevent. This real time interest data may enable an operator todynamically adjust the inventory of an item available to system 100based on the interest in the particular purchasing event. This reportingallows system 100 and more specifically, inventory database 130, todynamically adjust the inventory of the item in real time.

In various embodiments and with reference to FIG. 4, system 100 may alsobe capable of performing method 400 for conducting purchase operationsin any suitable fashion via transaction processing system 120. System100 may be capable of detecting a purchase action in a channel (Step410). The action may be any suitable in channel activity as describedherein. Based on or in response to this action, system 100 may becapable of analyzing the terms of the purchase event. For example,system 100 may determine whether a particular purchase event is activebased on the start date and/or end date associated with the purchaseevent.

If the purchasing event is active, system 100 may evaluate the inventoryof an item associated with the purchasing event (Step 420). If noinventory is available (or insufficient inventory), system 100 mayprovide a notification to the consumer indicating that the item is nolonger available for purchase or that inventory for an item is notavailable, but is being requested. If inventory for an item isavailable, system 100 may analyze the spend history of the transactionaccount associated with the purchase event (e.g., if the consumer haspreviously purchased the item associated with the purchase event) (Step430). If the transaction account associated with the purchase event hasalready purchase the item, system 100 may request a confirmation for theconsumer that a multiple purchase is authorized.

If the consumer has not previously purchased the item or if the consumerindicates the she wishes to purchase multiple items, system may becapable of evaluating the inventory status of the item (Step 440).System 100 may also be capable of determining whether a transactionaccount is linked for purchasing an item (Step 450) based on an inchannel activity. If the transaction account is not linked forpurchasing an item through digital channels, system 100 may be capableof requesting that the user link or update the preferences associatedwith the transaction account to confirm that purchases may be madethrough digital channels as described above.

Based on the transaction account being linked to the profile to conductpurchases, system 100 may initiate, conduct, transmit, complete orotherwise authorize the purchase of an item (Step 460). Based on thepurchase, system 100 may provide a notification or a transactionassociated with an action in the channel (Step 470). This notificationmay be provided through the channel where the purchase was initiated orthrough an alternative channel. This notification may be provided insubstantially real time based on the transaction (e.g., substantiallyinstantly, or contemporaneously with the activity in the channel). Assuch, the systems described herein facilitate purchases in digitalchannels.

Systems, methods and computer program products are provided. In thedetailed description herein, references to “various embodiments”, “oneembodiment”, “an embodiment”, “an example embodiment”, etc., indicatethat the embodiment described may include a particular feature,structure, or characteristic, but every embodiment may not necessarilyinclude the particular feature, structure, or characteristic. Moreover,such phrases are not necessarily referring to the same embodiment.Further, when a particular feature, structure, or characteristic isdescribed in connection with an embodiment, it is submitted that it iswithin the knowledge of one skilled in the art to affect such feature,structure, or characteristic in connection with other embodimentswhether or not explicitly described. After reading the description, itwill be apparent to one skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implementthe disclosure in alternative embodiments.

The phrases consumer, customer, user, account holder, account affiliate,cardmember and/or the like shall include any person, entity, business,government organization, business, software, hardware, machineassociated with a transaction account, buys merchant offerings offeredby one or more merchants using the account and/or is designated forperforming transactions on the account, regardless of whether a physicalcard is associated with the account. For example, the cardmember mayinclude a transaction account owner, a transaction account user, anaccount affiliate, a child account user, a subsidiary account user, abeneficiary of an account, a custodian of an account, and/or any otherperson or entity affiliated or associated with a transaction account.

Terms and phrases similar to “sync,” “syncing,” and/or “synchronizing”may include associating, tagging, flagging, correlating, using a look-uptable or any other method or system for indicating or creating arelationship between elements such as, for example (i) a transactionaccount and (ii) an item (e.g., offer, reward, discount) and/or digitalchannel. Moreover, the sync may occur at any point, in response to anysuitable action, event, or period of time. The sync may occur atpre-determined intervals, periodic, randomly, once, more than once, orin response to a suitable request or action.

Terms and phrases similar to “associate” and/or “associating” mayinclude tagging, flagging, correlating, using a look-up table or anyother method or system for indicating or creating a relationship betweenelements, such as, for example, (i) a transaction account and (ii) anitem (e.g., offer, reward, discount) and/or digital channel. Moreover,the associating may occur at any point, in response to any suitableaction, event, or period of time. The associating may occur atpre-determined intervals, periodic, randomly, once, more than once, orin response to a suitable request or action.

Any communication, transmission and/or channel discussed herein mayinclude any system or method for delivering content (e.g. data,information, metadata, etc.), and/or the content itself. The content maybe presented in any form or medium, and in various embodiments, thecontent may be delivered electronically and/or capable of beingpresented electronically. For example, a channel may comprise a website,a uniform resource locator (“URL”), a document (e.g., a Microsoft Worddocument, a Microsoft Excel document, an Adobe .pdf document, etc.), an“ebook,” an “emagazine,” an application or microapplication (asdescribed below), an SMS or other type of text message, an email,Facebook, Twitter, MMS and/or other type of communication technology. Invarious embodiments, a channel may be hosted or provided by a datapartner. In various embodiments, the distribution channel may compriseat least one of a merchant website, a social media website, affiliate orpartner websites, an external vendor, a mobile device communication,social media network and/or location based service. Distributionchannels may include at least one of a merchant website, a social mediasite, affiliate or partner websites, an external vendor, and a mobiledevice communication. Examples of social media sites include Facebook®,Foursquare®, Twitter®, MySpace®, LinkedIn®, and the like. Examples ofaffiliate or partner websites include American Express®, Groupon®,LivingSocial®, and the like. Moreover, examples of mobile devicecommunications include texting, email, and mobile applications forsmartphones.

A “consumer profile” or “consumer profile data” may comprise anyinformation or data about a consumer that describes an attributeassociated with the consumer (e.g., a preference, an interest,demographic information, personally identifying information, and thelike).

In various embodiments, the methods described herein are implementedusing the various particular machines described herein. The methodsdescribed herein may be implemented using the below particular machines,and those hereinafter developed, in any suitable combination, as wouldbe appreciated immediately by one skilled in the art. Further, as isunambiguous from this disclosure, the methods described herein mayresult in various transformations of certain articles.

For the sake of brevity, conventional data networking, applicationdevelopment and other functional aspects of the systems (and componentsof the individual operating components of the systems) may not bedescribed in detail herein. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown inthe various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplaryfunctional relationships and/or physical couplings between the variouselements. It should be noted that many alternative or additionalfunctional relationships or physical connections may be present in apractical system.

The various system components discussed herein may include one or moreof the following: a host server or other computing systems including aprocessor for processing digital data; a memory coupled to the processorfor storing digital data; an input digitizer coupled to the processorfor inputting digital data; an application program stored in the memoryand accessible by the processor for directing processing of digital databy the processor; a display device coupled to the processor and memoryfor displaying information derived from digital data processed by theprocessor; and a plurality of databases. Various databases used hereinmay include: client data; merchant data; financial institution data;and/or like data useful in the operation of the system. As those skilledin the art will appreciate, user computer may include an operatingsystem (e.g., Windows OS, UNIX, Linux, Solaris, MacOS, etc.) as well asvarious conventional support software and drivers typically associatedwith computers.

The present system or any part(s) or function(s) thereof may beimplemented using hardware, software or a combination thereof and may beimplemented in one or more computer systems or other processing systems.However, the manipulations performed by embodiments were often referredto in terms, such as matching or selecting, which are commonlyassociated with mental operations performed by a human operator. No suchcapability of a human operator is necessary, or desirable in most cases,in any of the operations described herein. Rather, the operations may bemachine operations. Useful machines for performing the variousembodiments include general purpose digital computers or similardevices.

In fact, in various embodiments, the embodiments are directed toward oneor more computer systems capable of carrying out the functionalitydescribed herein. The computer system includes one or more processors,such as processor. The processor is connected to a communicationinfrastructure (e.g., a communications bus, cross over bar, or network).Various software embodiments are described in terms of this exemplarycomputer system. After reading this description, it will become apparentto a person skilled in the relevant art(s) how to implement variousembodiments using other computer systems and/or architectures. Computersystem can include a display interface that forwards graphics, text, andother data from the communication infrastructure (or from a frame buffernot shown) for display on a display unit.

Computer system also includes a main memory, such as for example randomaccess memory (RAM), and may also include a secondary memory. Thesecondary memory may include, for example, a hard disk drive and/or aremovable storage drive, representing a floppy disk drive, a magnetictape drive, an optical disk drive, etc. The removable storage drivereads from and/or writes to a removable storage unit in a well-knownmanner. Removable storage unit represents a floppy disk, magnetic tape,optical disk, etc. which is read by and written to by removable storagedrive. As will be appreciated, the removable storage unit includes acomputer usable storage medium having stored therein computer softwareand/or data.

In various embodiments, secondary memory may include other similardevices for allowing computer programs or other instructions to beloaded into computer system. Such devices may include, for example, aremovable storage unit and an interface. Examples of such may include aprogram cartridge and cartridge interface (such as that found in videogame devices), a removable memory chip (such as an erasable programmableread only memory (EPROM), or programmable read only memory (PROM)) andassociated socket, and other removable storage units and interfaces,which allow software and data to be transferred from the removablestorage unit to computer system.

Computer system may also include a communications interface.Communications interface allows software and data to be transferredbetween computer system and external devices. Examples of communicationsinterface may include a modem, a network interface (such as an Ethernetcard), a communications port, a Personal Computer Memory CardInternational Association (PCMCIA) slot and card, etc. Software and datatransferred via communications interface are in the form of signalswhich may be electronic, electromagnetic, and optical or other signalscapable of being received by communications interface. These signals areprovided to communications interface via a communications path (e.g.,channel). This channel carries signals and may be implemented usingwire, cable, fiber optics, a telephone line, a cellular link, a radiofrequency (RF) link, wireless and other communications channels.

The terms “computer program medium” and “computer usable medium” areused to generally refer to media such as removable storage drive and ahard disk installed in hard disk drive. These computer program productsprovide software to computer system.

Computer programs (also referred to as computer control logic) arestored in main memory and/or secondary memory. Computer programs mayalso be received via communications interface. Such computer programs,when executed, enable the computer system to perform the features asdiscussed herein. In particular, the computer programs, when executed,enable the processor to perform the features of various embodiments.Accordingly, such computer programs represent controllers of thecomputer system.

In various embodiments, software may be stored in a computer programproduct and loaded into computer system using removable storage drive,hard disk drive or communications interface. The control logic(software), when executed by the processor, causes the processor toperform the functions of various embodiments as described herein. Invarious embodiments, hardware components such as application specificintegrated circuits (ASICs). Implementation of the hardware statemachine so as to perform the functions described herein will be apparentto persons skilled in the relevant art(s).

In various embodiments, the server may include application servers (e.g.WEB SPHERE, WEB LOGIC, JBOSS). In various embodiments, the server mayinclude web servers (e.g. APACHE, IIS, GWS, SUN JAVA SYSTEM WEB SERVER).

A web client includes any device (e.g., personal computer) whichcommunicates via any network, for example such as those discussedherein. Such browser applications comprise Internet browsing softwareinstalled within a computing unit or a system to conduct onlinetransactions and/or communications. These computing units or systems maytake the form of a computer or set of computers, although other types ofcomputing units or systems may be used, including laptops, notebooks,tablets, hand held computers, personal digital assistants, set-topboxes, workstations, computer-servers, main frame computers,mini-computers, PC servers, pervasive computers, network sets ofcomputers, personal computers, such as iPads, iMacs, and MacBooks,kiosks, terminals, point of sale (POS) devices and/or terminals,televisions, or any other device capable of receiving data over anetwork. A web-client may run Microsoft Internet Explorer, MozillaFirefox, Google Chrome, Apple Safari, or any other of the myriadsoftware packages available for browsing the internet.

Practitioners will appreciate that a web client may or may not be indirect contact with an application server. For example, a web client mayaccess the services of an application server through another serverand/or hardware component, which may have a direct or indirectconnection to an Internet server. For example, a web client maycommunicate with an application server via a load balancer. In anexemplary embodiment, access is through a network or the Internetthrough a commercially-available web-browser software package.

As those skilled in the art will appreciate, a web client includes anoperating system (e.g., Windows OS, UNIX, Linux, Solaris, MacOS, etc.)as well as various conventional support software and drivers typicallyassociated with computers. A web client may include any suitablepersonal computer, network computer, workstation, personal digitalassistant, cellular phone, smart phone, minicomputer, mainframe or thelike. A web client can be in a home or business environment with accessto a network. In an exemplary embodiment, access is through a network orthe Internet through a commercially available web-browser softwarepackage. A web client may implement security protocols such as SecureSockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS). A web client mayimplement several application layer protocols including http, https,ftp, and sftp.

In various embodiments, components, modules, and/or engines of system200 may be implemented as micro-applications or micro-apps. Micro-appsare typically deployed in the context of a mobile operating system,including for example, a Windows mobile operating system, an AndroidOperating System, Apple iOS, a Blackberry operating system and the like.The micro-app may be configured to leverage the resources of the largeroperating system and associated hardware via a set of predeterminedrules which govern the operations of various operating systems andhardware resources. For example, where a micro-app desires tocommunicate with a device or network other than the mobile device ormobile operating system, the micro-app may leverage the communicationprotocol of the operating system and associated device hardware underthe predetermined rules of the mobile operating system. Moreover, wherethe micro-app desires an input from a user, the micro-app may beconfigured to request a response from the operating system whichmonitors various hardware components and then communicates a detectedinput from the hardware to the micro-app.

As used herein, the term “network” includes any cloud, cloud computingsystem or electronic communications system or method which incorporateshardware and/or software components. Communication among the parties maybe accomplished through any suitable communication channels, such as,for example, a telephone network, an extranet, an intranet, Internet,point of interaction device (point of sale device, personal digitalassistant (e.g., iPhone®, Blackberry®), cellular phone, kiosk, etc.),online communications, satellite communications, off-linecommunications, wireless communications, transponder communications,local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), virtual privatenetwork (VPN), networked or linked devices, keyboard, mouse and/or anysuitable communication or data input modality. Moreover, although thesystem is frequently described herein as being implemented with TCP/IPcommunications protocols, the system may also be implemented using IPX,Appletalk, IP-6, NetBIOS, OSI, any tunneling protocol (e.g. IPsec, SSH),or any number of existing or future protocols. If the network is in thenature of a public network, such as the Internet, it may be advantageousto presume the network to be insecure and open to eavesdroppers.Specific information related to the protocols, standards, andapplication software utilized in connection with the Internet isgenerally known to those skilled in the art and, as such, need not bedetailed herein.

The various system components may be independently, separately orcollectively suitably coupled to the network via data links whichincludes, for example, a connection to an Internet Service Provider(ISP) over the local loop as is typically used in connection withstandard modem communication, cable modem, Dish networks, ISDN, DigitalSubscriber Line (DSL), or various wireless communication methods. It isnoted that the network may be implemented as other types of networks,such as an interactive television (ITV) network. Moreover, the systemcontemplates the use, sale or distribution of any goods, services orinformation over any network having similar functionality describedherein.

“Cloud” or “Cloud computing” includes a model for enabling convenient,on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computingresources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services)that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal managementeffort or service provider interaction. Cloud computing may includelocation-independent computing, whereby shared servers provideresources, software, and data to computers and other devices on demand.For more information regarding cloud computing, see the NIST's (NationalInstitute of Standards and Technology) definition of cloud computing.

As used herein, “transmit” may include sending electronic data from onesystem component to another over a network connection. Additionally, asused herein, “data” may include encompassing information such ascommands, queries, files, data for storage, and the like in digital orany other form.

As used herein, “issue a debit”, “debit” or “debiting” refers to eithercausing the debiting of a stored value or prepaid card-type financialaccount, or causing the charging of a credit or charge card-typefinancial account, as applicable.

The system contemplates uses in association with web services, utilitycomputing, pervasive and individualized computing, security and identitysolutions, autonomic computing, cloud computing, commodity computing,mobility and wireless solutions, open source, biometrics, grid computingand/or mesh computing.

Any databases discussed herein may include relational, hierarchical,graphical, or object-oriented structure and/or any other databaseconfigurations. Common database products that may be used to implementthe databases include DB2 by IBM (Armonk, N.Y.), various databaseproducts available from Oracle Corporation (Redwood Shores, Calif.),Microsoft Access or Microsoft SQL Server by Microsoft Corporation(Redmond, Wash.), MySQL by MySQL AB (Uppsala, Sweden), or any othersuitable database product. Moreover, the databases may be organized inany suitable manner, for example, as data tables or lookup tables. Eachrecord may be a single file, a series of files, a linked series of datafields or any other data structure. Association of certain data may beaccomplished through any desired data association technique such asthose known or practiced in the art. For example, the association may beaccomplished either manually or automatically. Automatic associationtechniques may include, for example, a database search, a databasemerge, GREP, AGREP, SQL, using a key field in the tables to speedsearches, sequential searches through all the tables and files, sortingrecords in the file according to a known order to simplify lookup,and/or the like. The association step may be accomplished by a databasemerge function, for example, using a “key field” in pre-selecteddatabases or data sectors. Various database tuning steps arecontemplated to optimize database performance. For example, frequentlyused files such as indexes may be placed on separate file systems toreduce In/Out (“I/O”) bottlenecks.

More particularly, a “key field” partitions the database according tothe high-level class of objects defined by the key field. For example,certain types of data may be designated as a key field in a plurality ofrelated data tables and the data tables may then be linked on the basisof the type of data in the key field. The data corresponding to the keyfield in each of the linked data tables is preferably the same or of thesame type. However, data tables having similar, though not identical,data in the key fields may also be linked by using AGREP, for example.In accordance with one embodiment, any suitable data storage techniquemay be utilized to store data without a standard format. Data sets maybe stored using any suitable technique, including, for example, storingindividual files using an ISO/IEC 7816-4 file structure; implementing adomain whereby a dedicated file is selected that exposes one or moreelementary files containing one or more data sets; using data setsstored in individual files using a hierarchical filing system; data setsstored as records in a single file (including compression, SQLaccessible, hashed via one or more keys, numeric, alphabetical by firsttuple, etc.); Binary Large Object (BLOB); stored as ungrouped dataelements encoded using ISO/IEC 7816-6 data elements; stored as ungroupeddata elements encoded using ISO/IEC Abstract Syntax Notation (ASN.1) asin ISO/IEC 8824 and 8825; and/or other proprietary techniques that mayinclude fractal compression methods, image compression methods, etc.

In one exemplary embodiment, the ability to store a wide variety ofinformation in different formats is facilitated by storing theinformation as a BLOB. Thus, any binary information can be stored in astorage space associated with a data set. As discussed above, the binaryinformation may be stored on the financial transaction instrument orexternal to but affiliated with the financial transaction instrument.The BLOB method may store data sets as ungrouped data elements formattedas a block of binary via a fixed memory offset using either fixedstorage allocation, circular queue techniques, or best practices withrespect to memory management (e.g., paged memory, least recently used,etc.). By using BLOB methods, the ability to store various data setsthat have different formats facilitates the storage of data associatedwith the financial transaction instrument by multiple and unrelatedowners of the data sets. For example, a first data set which may bestored may be provided by a first party, a second data set which may bestored may be provided by an unrelated second party, and yet a thirddata set which may be stored, may be provided by an third partyunrelated to the first and second party. Each of these three exemplarydata sets may contain different information that is stored usingdifferent data storage formats and/or techniques. Further, each data setmay contain subsets of data that also may be distinct from othersubsets.

As stated above, in various embodiments, the data can be stored withoutregard to a common format. However, in one exemplary embodiment, thedata set (e.g., BLOB) may be annotated in a standard manner whenprovided for manipulating the data onto the financial transactioninstrument. The annotation may comprise a short header, trailer, orother appropriate indicator related to each data set that is configuredto convey information useful in managing the various data sets. Forexample, the annotation may be called a “condition header”, “header”,“trailer”, or “status”, herein, and may comprise an indication of thestatus of the data set or may include an identifier correlated to aspecific issuer or owner of the data. In one example, the first threebytes of each data set BLOB may be configured or configurable toindicate the status of that particular data set; e.g., LOADED,INITIALIZED, READY, BLOCKED, REMOVABLE, or DELETED. Subsequent bytes ofdata may be used to indicate for example, the identity of the issuer,user, transaction/membership account identifier or the like. Each ofthese condition annotations are further discussed herein.

The data set annotation may also be used for other types of statusinformation as well as various other purposes. For example, the data setannotation may include security information establishing access levels.The access levels may, for example, be configured to permit only certainindividuals, levels of employees, companies, or other entities to accessdata sets, or to permit access to specific data sets based on thetransaction, merchant, issuer, user or the like. Furthermore, thesecurity information may restrict/permit only certain actions such asaccessing, modifying, and/or deleting data sets. In one example, thedata set annotation indicates that only the data set owner or the userare permitted to delete a data set, various identified users may bepermitted to access the data set for reading, and others are altogetherexcluded from accessing the data set. However, other access restrictionparameters may also be used allowing various entities to access a dataset with various permission levels as appropriate.

The data, including the header or trailer may be received by astandalone interaction device configured to add, delete, modify, oraugment the data in accordance with the header or trailer. As such, inone embodiment, the header or trailer is not stored on the transactiondevice along with the associated issuer-owned data but instead theappropriate action may be taken by providing to the transactioninstrument user at the stand alone device, the appropriate option forthe action to be taken. The system may contemplate a data storagearrangement wherein the header or trailer, or header or trailer history,of the data is stored on the transaction instrument in relation to theappropriate data.

One skilled in the art will also appreciate that, for security reasons,any databases, systems, devices, servers or other components of thesystem may consist of any combination thereof at a single location or atmultiple locations, wherein each database or system includes any ofvarious suitable security features, such as firewalls, access codes,encryption, decryption, compression, decompression, and/or the like.

Encryption may be performed by way of any of the techniques nowavailable in the art or which may become available—e.g., Twofish, RSA,El Gamal, Schorr signature, DSA, PGP, PKI, GPG (GnuPG), and symmetricand asymmetric cryptosystems.

The computing unit of the web client may be further equipped with anInternet browser connected to the Internet or an intranet using standarddial-up, cable, DSL or any other Internet protocol known in the art.Transactions originating at a web client may pass through a firewall inorder to prevent unauthorized access from users of other networks.Further, additional firewalls may be deployed between the varyingcomponents of CMS to further enhance security.

Firewall may include any hardware and/or software suitably configured toprotect CMS components and/or enterprise computing resources from usersof other networks. Further, a firewall may be configured to limit orrestrict access to various systems and components behind the firewallfor web clients connecting through a web server. Firewall may reside invarying configurations including Stateful Inspection, Proxy based,access control lists, and Packet Filtering among others. Firewall may beintegrated within a web server or any other CMS components or mayfurther reside as a separate entity. A firewall may implement networkaddress translation (“NAT”) and/or network address port translation(“NAPE”). A firewall may accommodate various tunneling protocols tofacilitate secure communications, such as those used in virtual privatenetworking. A firewall may implement a demilitarized zone (“DMZ”) tofacilitate communications with a public network such as the Internet. Afirewall may be integrated as software within an Internet server, anyother application server components or may reside within anothercomputing device or may take the form of a standalone hardwarecomponent.

The computers discussed herein may provide a suitable website or otherInternet-based graphical user interface which is accessible by users. Inone embodiment, the Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS),Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS), and Microsoft SQL Server, are usedin conjunction with the Microsoft operating system, Microsoft NT webserver software, a Microsoft SQL Server database system, and a MicrosoftCommerce Server. Additionally, components such as Access or MicrosoftSQL Server, Oracle, Sybase, Informix MySQL, Interbase, etc., may be usedto provide an Active Data Object (ADO) compliant database managementsystem. In one embodiment, the Apache web server is used in conjunctionwith a Linux operating system, a MySQL database, and the Perl, PHP,and/or Python programming languages.

Any of the communications, inputs, storage, databases or displaysdiscussed herein may be facilitated through a website having web pages.The term “web page” as it is used herein is not meant to limit the typeof documents and applications that might be used to interact with theuser. For example, a typical website might include, in addition tostandard HTML documents, various forms, Java applets, JavaScript, activeserver pages (ASP), common gateway interface scripts (CGI), extensiblemarkup language (XML), dynamic HTML, cascading style sheets (CS S), AJAX(Asynchronous Javascript And XML), helper applications, modules, and thelike. A server may include a web service that receives a request from aweb server, the request including a URL(http://yahoo.com/stockquotes/ge) and an IP address (123.56.789.234).The web server retrieves the appropriate web pages and sends the data orapplications for the web pages to the IP address. Web services areapplications that are capable of interacting with other applicationsover a communications means, such as the internet. Web services aretypically based on standards or protocols such as XML, SOAP, AJAX, WSDLand UDDI. Web services methods are well known in the art, and arecovered in many standard texts.

Middleware may include any hardware and/or software suitably configuredto facilitate communications and/or process transactions betweendisparate computing systems. Middleware components are commerciallyavailable and known in the art. Middleware may be implemented throughcommercially available hardware and/or software, through custom hardwareand/or software components, or through a combination thereof. Middlewaremay reside in a variety of configurations and may exist as a standalonesystem or may be a software component residing on the Internet server.Middleware may be configured to process transactions between the variouscomponents of an application server and any number of internal orexternal systems for any of the purposes disclosed herein. WebSphere MQ™(formerly MQSeries) by IBM, Inc. (Armonk, N.Y.) is an example of acommercially available middleware product. An Enterprise Service Bus(“ESB”) application is another example of middleware.

Practitioners will also appreciate that there are a number of methodsfor displaying data within a browser-based document. Data may berepresented as standard text or within a fixed list, scrollable list,drop-down list, editable text field, fixed text field, pop-up window,and the like. Likewise, there are a number of methods available formodifying data in a web page such as, for example, free text entry usinga keyboard, selection of menu items, check boxes, option boxes, and thelike.

The system and method may be described herein in terms of functionalblock components, screen shots, optional selections and variousprocessing steps. It should be appreciated that such functional blocksmay be realized by any number of hardware and/or software componentsconfigured to perform the specified functions. For example, the systemmay employ various integrated circuit components, e.g., memory elements,processing elements, logic elements, look-up tables, and the like, whichmay carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or moremicroprocessors or other control devices. Similarly, the softwareelements of the system may be implemented with any programming orscripting language such as C, C++, C#, Java, JavaScript, VBScript,Macromedia Cold Fusion, COBOL, Microsoft Active Server Pages, assembly,PERL, PHP, awk, Python, Visual Basic, SQL Stored Procedures, PL/SQL, anyUNIX shell script, and extensible markup language (XML) with the variousalgorithms being implemented with any combination of data structures,objects, processes, routines or other programming elements. Further, itshould be noted that the system may employ any number of conventionaltechniques for data transmission, signaling, data processing, networkcontrol, and the like. Still further, the system could be used to detector prevent security issues with a client-side scripting language, suchas JavaScript, VBScript or the like.

The merchant computer and the bank computer may be interconnected via asecond network, referred to as a payment network. The payment networkwhich may be part of certain transactions represents existingproprietary networks that presently accommodate transactions for creditcards, debit cards, and other types of financial/banking cards. Thepayment network is a closed network that is assumed to be secure fromeavesdroppers. Exemplary transaction networks may include the AmericanExpress®, VisaNet® and the Veriphone® networks.

The electronic commerce system may be implemented at the customer andissuing bank. In an exemplary implementation, the electronic commercesystem is implemented as computer software modules loaded onto thecustomer computer and the banking computing center. The merchantcomputer does not require any additional software to participate in theonline commerce transactions supported by the online commerce system.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the systemmay be embodied as a customization of an existing system, an add-onproduct, a processing apparatus executing upgraded software, a standalone system, a distributed system, a method, a data processing system,a device for data processing, and/or a computer program product.Accordingly, any portion of the system or a module may take the form ofa processing apparatus executing code, an internet based embodiment, anentirely hardware embodiment, or an embodiment combining aspects of theinternet, software and hardware. Furthermore, the system may take theform of a computer program product on a computer-readable storage mediumhaving computer-readable program code means embodied in the storagemedium. Any suitable computer-readable storage medium may be utilized,including hard disks, CD-ROM, optical storage devices, magnetic storagedevices, and/or the like.

The system and method is described herein with reference to screenshots, block diagrams and flowchart illustrations of methods, apparatus(e.g., systems), and computer program products according to variousembodiments. It will be understood that each functional block of theblock diagrams and the flowchart illustrations, and combinations offunctional blocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations,respectively, can be implemented by computer program instructions.

These computer program instructions may be loaded onto a general purposecomputer, special purpose computer, or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructionsthat execute on the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in theflowchart block or blocks. These computer program instructions may alsobe stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablememory produce an article of manufacture including instruction meanswhich implement the function specified in the flowchart block or blocks.The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in theflowchart block or blocks.

Accordingly, functional blocks of the block diagrams and flowchartillustrations support combinations of means for performing the specifiedfunctions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions,and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. Itwill also be understood that each functional block of the block diagramsand flowchart illustrations, and combinations of functional blocks inthe block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, can be implemented byeither special purpose hardware-based computer systems which perform thespecified functions or steps, or suitable combinations of specialpurpose hardware and computer instructions. Further, illustrations ofthe process flows and the descriptions thereof may make reference touser windows, webpages, websites, web forms, prompts, etc. Practitionerswill appreciate that the illustrated steps described herein may comprisein any number of configurations including the use of windows, webpages,web forms, popup windows, prompts and the like. It should be furtherappreciated that the multiple steps as illustrated and described may becombined into single webpages and/or windows but have been expanded forthe sake of simplicity. In other cases, steps illustrated and describedas single process steps may be separated into multiple webpages and/orwindows but have been combined for simplicity.

The term “non-transitory” is to be understood to remove only propagatingtransitory signals per se from the claim scope and does not relinquishrights to all standard computer-readable media that are not onlypropagating transitory signals per se. Stated another way, the meaningof the term “non-transitory computer-readable medium” and“non-transitory computer-readable storage medium” should be construed toexclude only those types of transitory computer-readable media whichwere found in In Re Nuijten to fall outside the scope of patentablesubject matter under 35 U.S.C. §101.

In yet another embodiment, the transponder, transponder-reader, and/ortransponder-reader system are configured with a biometric securitysystem that may be used for providing biometrics as a secondary form ofidentification. The biometric security system may include a transponderand a reader communicating with the system. The biometric securitysystem also may include a biometric sensor that detects biometricsamples and a device for verifying biometric samples. The biometricsecurity system may be configured with one or more biometric scanners,processors and/or systems. A biometric system may include one or moretechnologies, or any portion thereof, such as, for example, recognitionof a biometric. As used herein, a biometric may include a user's voice,fingerprint, facial, ear, signature, vascular patterns, DNA sampling,hand geometry, sound, olfactory, keystroke/typing, iris, retinal or anyother biometric relating to recognition based upon any body part,function, system, attribute and/or other characteristic, or any portionthereof.

Phrases and terms similar to an “entity” may include any individual,consumer, customer, group, business, organization, government entity,transaction account issuer or processor (e.g., credit, charge, etc.),merchant, consortium of merchants, account holder, charitableorganization, software, hardware, and/or any other type of entity. Theterms “user,” “consumer,” “purchaser,” and/or the plural form of theseterms are used interchangeably throughout herein to refer to thosepersons or entities that are alleged to be authorized to use atransaction account.

Phrases and terms similar to “account”, “account number”, “account code”or “consumer account” as used herein, may include any device, code(e.g., one or more of an authorization/access code, personalidentification number (“PIN”), Internet code, other identification code,and/or the like), number, letter, symbol, digital certificate, smartchip, digital signal, analog signal, biometric or otheridentifier/indicia suitably configured to allow the consumer to access,interact with or communicate with the system. The account number mayoptionally be located on or associated with a rewards account, chargeaccount, credit account, debit account, prepaid account, telephone card,embossed card, smart card, magnetic stripe card, bar code card,transponder, radio frequency card or an associated account.

The system may include or interface with any of the foregoing accounts,devices, and/or a transponder and reader (e.g. RFID reader) in RFcommunication with the transponder (which may include a fob), orcommunications between an initiator and a target enabled by near fieldcommunications (NFC). Typical devices may include, for example, a keyring, tag, card, cell phone, wristwatch or any such form capable ofbeing presented for interrogation. Moreover, the system, computing unitor device discussed herein may include a “pervasive computing device,”which may include a traditionally non-computerized device that isembedded with a computing unit. Examples may include watches, Internetenabled kitchen appliances, restaurant tables embedded with RF readers,wallets or purses with imbedded transponders, etc. Furthermore, a deviceor financial transaction instrument may have electronic andcommunications functionality enabled, for example, by: a network ofelectronic circuitry that is printed or otherwise incorporated onto orwithin the transaction instrument (and typically referred to as a “smartcard”); a fob having a transponder and an RFID reader; and/or near fieldcommunication (NFC) technologies. For more information regarding NFC,refer to the following specifications all of which are incorporated byreference herein: ISO/IEC 18092/ECMA-340, Near Field CommunicationInterface and Protocol-1 (NFCIP-1); ISO/IEC 21481/ECMA-352, Near FieldCommunication Interface and Protocol-2 (NFCIP-2); and EMV 4.2.

The account number may be distributed and stored in any form of plastic,electronic, magnetic, radio frequency, wireless, audio and/or opticaldevice capable of transmitting or downloading data from itself to asecond device. A consumer account number may be, for example, asixteen-digit account number, although each credit provider has its ownnumbering system, such as the fifteen-digit numbering system used byAmerican Express. Each company's account numbers comply with thatcompany's standardized format such that the company using afifteen-digit format will generally use three-spaced sets of numbers, asrepresented by the number “0000 000000 00000”. The first five to sevendigits are reserved for processing purposes and identify the issuingbank, account type, etc. In this example, the last (fifteenth) digit isused as a sum check for the fifteen digit number. The intermediaryeight-to-eleven digits are used to uniquely identify the consumer. Amerchant account number may be, for example, any number or alpha-numericcharacters that identify a particular merchant for purposes of accountacceptance, account reconciliation, reporting, or the like.

In various embodiments, an account number may identify a consumer. Inaddition, in various embodiments, a consumer may be identified by avariety of identifiers, including, for example, an email address, atelephone number, a cookie id, a radio frequency identifier (RFID), abiometric, and the like.

Phrases and terms similar to “financial institution” or “transactionaccount issuer” may include any entity that offers transaction accountservices. Although often referred to as a “financial institution,” thefinancial institution may represent any type of bank, lender or othertype of account issuing institution, such as credit card companies, cardsponsoring companies, or third party issuers under contract withfinancial institutions. It is further noted that other participants maybe involved in some phases of the transaction, such as an intermediarysettlement institution.

The terms “payment vehicle,” “financial transaction instrument,”“transaction instrument” and/or the plural form of these terms may beused interchangeably throughout to refer to a financial instrument.

Phrases and terms similar to “merchant,” “supplier” or “seller” mayinclude any entity that receives payment or other consideration. Forexample, a supplier may request payment for goods sold to a buyer whoholds an account with a transaction account issuer.

Phrases and terms similar to a “buyer” may include any entity thatreceives goods or services in exchange for consideration (e.g. financialpayment). For example, a buyer may purchase, lease, rent, barter orotherwise obtain goods from a supplier and pay the supplier using atransaction account.

Phrases and terms similar to “internal data” may include any data acredit issuer possesses or acquires pertaining to a particular consumer.Internal data may be gathered before, during, or after a relationshipbetween the credit issuer and the transaction account holder (e.g., theconsumer or buyer). Such data may include consumer demographic data.Consumer demographic data includes any data pertaining to a consumer.Consumer demographic data may include consumer name, address, telephonenumber, email address, employer and social security number. Consumertransactional data is any data pertaining to the particular transactionsin which a consumer engages during any given time period. Consumertransactional data may include, for example, transaction amount,transaction time, transaction vendor/merchant, and transactionvendor/merchant location. Transaction vendor/merchant location maycontain a high degree of specificity to a vendor/merchant. For example,transaction vendor/merchant location may include a particular gasolinefiling station in a particular postal code located at a particular crosssection or address. Also, for example, transaction vendor/merchantlocation may include a particular web address, such as a UniformResource Locator (“URL”), an email address and/or an Internet Protocol(“IP”) address for a vendor/merchant. Transaction vendor/merchant andtransaction vendor/merchant location may be associated with a particularconsumer and further associated with sets of consumers. Consumer paymentdata includes any data pertaining to a consumer's history of paying debtobligations. Consumer payment data may include consumer payment dates,payment amounts, balance amount, and credit limit. Internal data mayfurther comprise records of consumer service calls, complaints, requestsfor credit line increases, questions, and comments. A record of aconsumer service call includes, for example, date of call, reason forcall, and any transcript or summary of the actual call.

Phrases similar to a “payment processor” may include a company (e.g., athird party) appointed (e.g., by a merchant) to handle transactions. Apayment processor may include an issuer, acquirer, authorizer and/or anyother system or entity involved in the transaction process. Paymentprocessors may be broken down into two types: front-end and back-end.Front-end payment processors have connections to various transactionaccounts and supply authorization and settlement services to themerchant banks' merchants. Back-end payment processors acceptsettlements from front-end payment processors and, via The FederalReserve Bank, move money from an issuing bank to the merchant bank. Inan operation that will usually take a few seconds, the payment processorwill both check the details received by forwarding the details to therespective account's issuing bank or card association for verification,and may carry out a series of anti-fraud measures against thetransaction. Additional parameters, including the account's country ofissue and its previous payment history, may be used to gauge theprobability of the transaction being approved. In response to thepayment processor receiving confirmation that the transaction accountdetails have been verified, the information may be relayed back to themerchant, who will then complete the payment transaction. In response tothe verification being denied, the payment processor relays theinformation to the merchant, who may then decline the transaction.Phrases similar to a “payment gateway” or “gateway” may include anapplication service provider service that authorizes payments fore-businesses, online retailers, and/or traditional brick and mortarmerchants. The gateway may be the equivalent of a physical point of saleterminal located in most retail outlets. A payment gateway may protecttransaction account details by encrypting sensitive information, such astransaction account numbers, to ensure that information passes securelybetween the customer and the merchant and also between merchant andpayment processor.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have beendescribed herein with regard to specific embodiments. However, thebenefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any elements that maycause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become morepronounced are not to be construed as critical, required, or essentialfeatures or elements of the disclosure. The scope of the disclosure isaccordingly to be limited by nothing other than the appended claims, inwhich reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean“one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one ormore.” Moreover, where a phrase similar to ‘at least one of A, B, and C’or ‘at least one of A, B, or C’ is used in the claims or specification,it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that A alone maybe present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in an embodiment, Calone may be present in an embodiment, or that any combination of theelements A, B and C may be present in a single embodiment; for example,A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C. Although the disclosureincludes a method, it is contemplated that it may be embodied ascomputer program instructions on a tangible computer-readable carrier,such as a magnetic or optical memory or a magnetic or optical disk. Allstructural, chemical, and functional equivalents to the elements of theabove-described exemplary embodiments that are known to those ofordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by referenceand are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. Moreover, itis not necessary for a device or method to address each and everyproblem sought to be solved by the present disclosure, for it to beencompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component,or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated tothe public regardless of whether the element, component, or method stepis explicitly recited in the claims. No claim element herein is to beconstrued under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112(f) unless the element isexpressly recited using the phrase “means for.” As used herein, theterms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variation thereof, areintended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a process,method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of elements does notinclude only those elements but may include other elements not expresslylisted or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method, comprising: determining, by a computerbased system and via a verification and monitoring module, identityinformation for a user in a channel; monitoring, by the computer basedsystem, activity information in the channel, wherein the activityinformation is analyzed to determine that the activity informationcorresponds to an activity associated with the user, analyzing, by thecomputer based system, the activity information to determine that theactivity information is associated with an item in the channel;identifying, by the computer based system, the item; initiating, by thecomputer based system and via a transaction processing system, atransaction for the item, in response to the analyzing the activityinformation.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting,by the computer based system, a module for the channel.
 3. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the module is installed to allow the authenticationinformation to be collected through the channel and communicated fromthe channel to the verification and monitoring module.
 4. The method ofclaim 3, wherein the verification and monitoring module is configured toconfirm the identity of the user, in response to the authenticationinformation being communicated through the module.
 5. The method ofclaim 2, wherein the module is configured to validate user informationassociated with a transaction account and a user.
 6. The method of claim5, wherein the module is configured to enable a purchase of the itemwith the transaction account in the channel based on the activityinformation for the user in the channel.
 7. The method of claim 2,wherein the module is configured to capture activity information in thechannel.
 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the module is configured tomonitor selector activity by a user in the channel.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the activity information corresponds to movement of aselector in the channel.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the activityinformation corresponds to a selection in the channel.
 11. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the channel is a proprietary channel.
 12. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the channel is a non-proprietary channel.
 13. Anon-transitory computer program product having computer-executableinstructions stored thereon that, if executed by a computer basedsystem, causes the computer based system to be capable of performingoperations comprising: determining, by the computer based system and viaa verification and monitoring module, identity information for a user ina channel; monitoring, by the computer based system, activityinformation in the channel, wherein the activity information is analyzedto determine that the activity information corresponds to an activityassociated with the user, analyzing, by the computer based system, theactivity information to determine that the activity information isassociated with an item in the channel; identifying, by the computerbased system, the item; initiating, by the computer based system and viaa transaction processing system, a transaction for the item in responseto the analyzing the activity information.
 14. The product of claim 13,further configured to perform operations comprising transmitting, by thecomputer based system, a module for the channel.
 15. The product ofclaim 14, wherein the module is installed to allow the authenticationinformation to be collected through the channel and communicated fromthe channel to the verification and monitoring module.
 16. The productof claim 15, wherein the verification and monitoring module isconfigured to confirm the identity of the user in response to theauthentication information being communicated through the module.
 17. Acomputer based system, comprising: a processor; a non-transitory memoryconfigured to communicate with the processor, the non-transitory memoryhaving instructions stored thereon; determining, by the processor andvia a verification and monitoring module, identity information for auser in a channel; monitoring, by the processor, activity information inthe channel, wherein the activity information is analyzed to determinethat the activity information corresponds to an activity associated withthe user, analyzing, by the processor, the activity information todetermine that the activity information is associated with an item inthe channel; identifying, by the processor, the item; initiating, by theprocessor and via a transaction processing system, a transaction for theitem in response to the analyzing the activity information.
 18. Thesystem of claim 17, further configured to perform operations comprisingtransmitting, by processor, a module for the channel.
 19. The system ofclaim 18, wherein the module is installed to allow the authenticationinformation to be collected through the channel and communicated fromthe channel to the verification and monitoring module.
 20. The system ofclaim 19, wherein the verification and monitoring module is configuredto confirm the identity of the user, in response to the authenticationinformation being communicated through the module.